Related Expert's Opinion

By Dr. Paul Jarrod Frank,
Founder and Director
The 5th Avenue Dermatology
Surgery &Laser Center of New York

Don’t have time for long recoveries? Looking for immediate satisfaction for wrinkle removal, scar improvements, facial lifting and volume enhancement? Done in minutes, fillers help to diminish pesky lines, correct hollowed out, tired eyes or enhance lips with a natural looking, safe result. The world of cosmetic dermatology seems endless, as it’s flooded with a variety of fillers like Sculptra, Radiesse, Restylane, Juvaderm and Belotero, but how do you know which one is right for you?

The key thing to know about fillers, is that one is no better than the other. A patient’s choice depends on factors such as longevity, reversibility, cost and appropriate areas of potential use and typically after one treatment, patients are able to return to work the next day. There is no specific age when you should begin receiving treatments. Here's a look at some options...

Volume Fillers

Sculptrais used to revolumize tissue, cheeks, chins, hollowed temples and lax skin due to volume depletion as we age.Sculptra is an artificial, but absorbable substance that takes a few treatments to acquire a final result, as it builds slowly over the course of weeks to months. An advantage is that it lasts the longest (18-24 months), but is slow in effect. Sculptra is the most traumatic and most expensive filler.

Radiessedermal filler is made of calcium-based microspheres suspended in a water-based gel, and is injected into the skin through a simple and minimally invasive procedure. Radiesse dermal filler is the ideal choice for total facial contouring. It can restore a healthy, youthful appearance, enhance your existing features, help you defy age and gravity, and increase your confidence – all without invasive surgery or scarring. Radiesse is immediate in its effect, has low trauma and lasts about 9-12 months.

Wrinkle Fillers

Restylane, when injected into the skin, replenishes your own natural stocks of hyaluronic acid. It works at a deep dermal level to stimulate the production of collagen and improve skin elasticity, softening the appearance of facial lines and restoring youthful volume and shape to the face.A Restylane procedure is very quick, low trauma and the results can be seen immediately.There is a potential for reversibility and it generally lasts for 6 -9 months, depending on the area treated.

Juvederm is a "next generation" smooth gel, non-animal dermal filler offering a natural look/feel and long-lasting results ranging from 6-9 months. Juvéderm dermal filler lasts long because it's the only dermal filler currently available with the highest concentration of hyaluronic acid and a special formulation process. Like Restylane, this filler has low trauma, immediate effects and potential for reversibility.

Beloterois the only fine line filler on the market, which is a hyaluronic acid filler similar to Restylane. Belotero rehydrates your skin while integrating with your dermal tissue to provide evenness and enhance facial contours, to give you natural looking results. It is administered by dermatologists to treat fine lines around areas such as the eyes and mouth, cheekbones, lips, the back of hands, bridge of the nose, and frown lines. Typically, results usually last anywhere from 6 - 12 months, however, some patients experience results which last for over a year.

About the expert:

Dr. Frank is a Board Certified Dermatologist and Dermatologic Surgeon, a Diplomat of the American Board of Dermatology, and a fellow of both the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery and the American Academy of Dermatology. He is also on the Board of Directors of The American Academy of Cosmetic Dermatology and Aesthetic Surgery. He trained in Internal Medicine at New York's Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center and completed his Dermatology residency at NYU Langone Medical Center where he is currently a Clinical Assistant Professor and director of a cosmetic surgical clinic for training dermatologists. He is also an author and currently serves as Global Brand Endorser and Product Developer for GoodSkin Labs by Estée Lauder Companies.